Solution self-assembly of poly(ferrocenylphenylphosphine)-block-polydimethylsiloxane: Formation of spherical micelles with an organometallic poly(ferrocenylphenylphosphine) core

Abstract

The novel organometallic-inorganic diblock copolymer, poly(ferrocenylphenylphosphine)-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PFP-b-PDMS), with narrow molecular weight distribution has been synthesized by living anionic polymerization through sequential monomer addition. These block copolymers self-assemble into "star-like" spherical micelles in hexane with a dense organometallic PFP core surrounded by a swollen corona of the PDMS chains. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize these micellar aggregates. It was found that the block copolymer micelles have a relatively narrow core size distribution, but an overall broader distribution of hydrodynamic size in hexane. Significantly, the preparation method of the micelle solution was also found to have an influence on the size and size distribution of the resulting micellar structures.